Transcript VOLUNTARIST VIEWS OF FAITH.

VOLUNTARIST VIEWS OF
FAITH.
F.R. TENNANT.
“THE FAITH VENTURE.”
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PRELIMINARY POINTS.
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He said : “belief in God becomes reasonable if
the idea of God be found indispensable for
the explanation of the totality of our
scientific knowledge about the individual
mind.”
Class discussion :
What did he mean by this? Break it up into
sections and jot down some notes.
Faith is defined as “willing adventure” that
plays a part in all discoveries. It reaches the
“ideally possible.”
Belief is defined as that which is “concerned
with fact or actuality.”
Class discussion :
What’s the difference between faith and
belief?
What has this to do with a voluntarist view
of faith?
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FAITH IN RELIGION AND SCIENCE.
1. A hypothesis is needed in both.
2. Both need to make this hypothesis
real/actual by acting on it.
3. “Every machine of human
invention” has come about this
way.
4. Both, therefore need the “faith
venture.”
5. Without this venture nothing new
would be discovered.
6. Columbus’ discovery of America is
given as an example.
7. There is no guarantee that this
“faith venture” will be guaranteed.
It involves risks.
8. But, a discovery is only made if
risks are taken.
9. So, Religion and Science are
similar in the need for this “faith
venture.”
QUESTIONS.
a) Suggest a hypothesis for both.
(point 1.)
b) What must then be done in point
2?
c) Using “adventure” as a clue, write
a few sentences on what taking
the “faith venture” may mean for
both. (point 4.)
d) Why do you think Tennant used
Columbus as an example? (point 6.)
e) What risks may be involved in
both? (point 7)
f) Write a paragraph to sum up why
Religion and Science are similar in
the “faith venture.” (point 9.)
g) What has this to do with the
Voluntarist theory of faith?
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VOLUNTARIST VIEWS OF
FAITH.
W. JAMES.
THE WILL/RIGHT TO
BELIEVE.
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KEY WORDS FOR JAMES.
INCLUDE THESE IN AN ESSAY
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PRAGMATIC.
GENUINE OPTION.
LIVING.
FORCED.
MOMENTOUS.
PASSIONAL.
HOMEWORK.
• Research the words on
the left in relation to
James’ work.
• Write a paragraph on
each, saying what part
they play in his
Voluntarist view of
faith.
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JAMES IN CONTEXT.
• The sceptic W.K.
Clifford said that :-
”It is wrong
everywhere, always
and for anyone to
believe on the basis of
insufficient evidence.”
• QUESTION.
• Do you agree or disagree ?
Say why.
• James accuses
Clifford of risking loss
of truth rather than
chancing error.
• James says that no
conclusive evidence
will ever arrive, so
Religious faith cannot
be just a matter of
the intellect. We
simply must decide.
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ERROR ?
• Whatever our decision, yes, no or
undecided, there is the chance of error.
• We also risk loss of truth.
• The decision cannot be made on
intellectual grounds.
• So, one is justified in deciding on
“PASSIONAL” grounds.
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WHAT DOES “PASSIONAL” MEAN ?
• Hopefully, you did the
homework and you know!
• It is the emotional side of
our nature that we can base
our decisions on.
• That is, decide according to
what best fits with our
hopes, fears and so on.
• James says that this
“passional” decision will then
be the one which is the most
PRAGMATIC(practical) for
our own happiness and
satisfaction.
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AN EXAMPLE TO USE IN AN ESSAY :
IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH?
What is the most pragmatic decision ?
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JAMES’ ANSWER.
• This is a genuine option,
which is living, forced
and momentous(see
research.)
• The decision cannot be
made on intellectual
grounds.
• So, we “lawfully may”
make our decision on
“passional” grounds.
• If believing in life after
death is the most
pragmatic decision for
me, that is, what best
fits with my “passional”
nature , then this belief
is justified.
• This is more pragmatic
for me than believing
that there is no life
after death.
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WHAT IF I
REMAIN IN
DOUBT ?
This is still a
“passional” decision .
He says that being in
doubt would be more
pragmatic than not
believing in life after
death, but not as
pragmatic as if there
was a belief in life
after death.
QUESTION.
Which of the 3 options
do you think is the
most pragmatic ? Say
why.
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HOW DOES JAMES DECIDE?
• He says that a religious person still gains satisfactions here and
now. This comes from believing that there is a life beyond.
• An atheist or agnostic does not expect a life beyond and so does
not gain satisfaction from that in this life.
• A believer will die expecting a life beyond and will not know if
s/he is wrong. So, it is more pragmatic for me to believe in it.
• Therefore, I “WILL TO BELIEVE” that the religious
hypothesis is true. I will also live as though it is true.
• Although religious belief does not come through empirical
means, we can get empirical confirmation of the religious belief.
• How? We can see the positive effects of religion an a person’s
life.
• To those who are not willing to make that decision he would say
“live and let live” and “go in peace.”
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JAMES CONCLUDED HIS “WILL TO BELIEVE” ESSAY WITH A
QUOTE FROM 19TH CENTURY AUTHOR, FITZ JAMES STEPHEN :
“In all important transactions of life we have
to take a leap in the dark.... If we decide to
leave the riddles unanswered, that is a choice;
if we waver in our answer, that, too, is a
choice: but whatever choice we make, we make
it at our peril. If a man chooses to turn his
back altogether on God and the future, no one
can prevent him; no one can show beyond
reasonable doubt that he is mistaken. If a man
thinks otherwise and acts as he thinks, I do
not see that any one can prove that he is
mistaken. Each must act as he thinks best; and
if he is wrong, so much the worse forNGfhim.
L CYMRU GCaD
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We stand on a mountain pass in the midst of
whirling snow and blinding mist through which
we get glimpses now and then of paths which
may be deceptive. If we stand still we shall
be frozen to death. If we take the wrong
road we shall be dashed to pieces. We do not
certainly know whether there is any right
one. What must we do? ' Be strong and of a
good courage.' Act for the best, hope for the
best, and take what comes. . . . If death ends
all, we cannot meet death better.”
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QUESTION.
• Work through the previous
quote word by word,
sentence by sentence.
• Explain why James chose this
quote to end his work. How
does it “fit” with his “will to
believe” theory of faith ?
• Pass your answer to another
member of the class and take
someone else’s answer. What
can you add to their work?
• Have they found something
you didn’t ? Add it to yours.
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VOLUNTARIST VIEWS OF
FAITH
B. PASCAL.
HIS WAGER/BET.
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WHERE CAN WE USE PASCAL?
• In your A2 work, Pascal can be used in
questions concerning “theories about
the nature of faith” and also in
questions that ask “whether faith is
more valid if based on reason or
revelation.”
• Let’s look at his Wager......
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KEY WORD : PRUDENCE.
• A dictionary defines this as “cautious”,
“discretion”, “foresight”, “careful
management of resources”,
“consideration of your own interests”
and so on.
• So, Pascal is saying that it is prudent to
wager that God exists.
• Why ?....
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IT IS PRUDENT BECAUSE..
• It is impossible to prove or disprove
God’s existence(this is a clue to his
views on reason.)
• So, he suggests we make a wager that
God exists, which he says is a far more
prudent/sensible wager than atheism.
• Why ?...
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I BELIEVE THAT GOD EXISTS
God does exist
God does not exist
Eternal life
Nothing happens
Clearly, believing is the only “bet” that
allows you to gain anything.
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I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
GOD EXISTS
God does exist
Eternal damnation
God does not exist
Nothingness
Clearly, not believing does not allow you
to gain anything. In fact, if God does
exist, you positively lose( a lot !)
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SO, THE BEST BET..
• If we presume God
• However, if we live
exists and live life
as if there is no God,
as if there is a God,
if there isn’t, no gain
there is no gain, but,
but no loss.
there is no loss.
• Live life as if there
• If life has been lived
is no God, if there is,
as though there is a
look out !
God(positive life),
• So, the prudent
then there is a winwager is to live life
win situation.
as if there is a God.
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USEFUL LINKS FOR ESSAY QUESTIONS.
• It is interesting to
note that Pascal is
saying atheism is
unreasonable as it is
not a safe bet.
• Whereas,
Kierkegaard says the
exact opposite; it is
because faith is
“risky” that it gains
it’s value.
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PASCAL’S GOD.
• Pascal’s God is the
God of the Bible, the
God of the
theologians.
• It is not the God of
the philosophers.
• Question.
• What does this mean
for his views of
revelation and reason ?
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GOD OF THE BIBLE.
• This God is
loving, guiding, 3
in one(trinity)
and so on.
• The God of the
philosophers is
Prime Mover,
First Cause and
so on.
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IMPLICATIONS.
• He rejected Natural Theology(using
reason to “discover” God.)
• Hence, his classic quote “the heart has
reasons the mind never thought of.”
• We should “Hear God”. This is an
allusion to God’s revelation.
• Question
• What do his quotes tell you about his
views on reason and revelation?
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Revelation and the “wager.”
• Although faith is not
based on reason it is
still “reasonable.”
• This is because the
results of the wager
show that it is more
prudent to believe
than to not believe.
• So, accepting God’s
revelation is by far
the best bet !
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